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NATCHEZ – A record high number of Mississippi third-graders passed the state reading assessment on the first attempt this spring, prompting praise from statewide education leaders.

“These results are outstanding. The MDE applauds all educators and families across the state that make literacy a priority,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “With a continued emphasis on the science of reading as well as implementation of high-quality instructional materials, we believe Mississippi students will continue to make progress.”

A total of 32,839 third graders took the assessment. In 2023-24, 75.7% of third graders passed the initial administration of the reading assessment. After the final retests in 2023-24, 84% of third graders passed the test.

In accordance with the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), third graders who do not pass the initial administration of the reading test are given up to two attempts to retest. Students who did not pass the initial reading assessment were retested in early May. The second retest window is June 16 – 27.

Area district performance included:

Natchez-Adams County School District

McLaurin Elementary School, 74.2% pass rate

Instant Impact Global Prep Charter

Instant Impact Global Prep, 56.5% pass rate

Amite County School District

Amite County Elementary, 61.5% pass rate

Claiborne County School District

A.W. Watson Elementary, 64.4% pass rate

Franklin County School District

Franklin County Lower Elementary, 82.2% pass rate

Jefferson County School District

Jefferson County Elementary, 84%

Wilkinson County School District

Wilkinson County Elementary, 45% pass rate

The LBPA became law in 2013 to improve reading skills of kindergarten through third-grade students in public schools so every student completing the third grade is able to read at or above grade level. The LBPA requires Mississippi third graders to pass a reading assessment to qualify for promotion to fourth grade. Some students may qualify for good cause exemptions to be promoted to fourth grade.

An amendment to the law in 2016 raised reading-level expectations starting in the 2018-19 school year, requiring third graders to score at level three or higher on the reading portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) English Language Arts (ELA) assessment.

Click here to see the district- and school-level initial pass rate report for 2024-25.

Final district-level pass rates will be published this fall in the Literacy-Based Promotion Act Annual Report of Performance and Student Retention for the 2024-25 school year.